Resembling a wet mop, Kona Kai, a labradoodle, rides a wave to shore during the 4th Annual Surf City Surf Dog competition. The pooch belongs to Pam Lucado.

Rhyno rides a wave with his security ball during the 4th Annual Surf City Surf Dog contest for medium-sized dogs. The rescue would follow owner Dustin Halko into the water when he surfed. "I finally put him on a board," he said, and the rest is history.

Roxie, a mixed breed, gets helped out of the water by a volunteer during the 4th Annual Surf City Surf Dog extra large dog competition. The dog belongs to Jenna and Erika Adler of Irvine.

Kona Kai the labradoodle gets help balancing the board during the 4th Annual Surf City Surf Dog competition. The dog belongs to Pam Lucado.

A collision between Roxie, at left and Hanzo is averted during the 4th Annual Surf City Surf extra large Dog surfing competition in Huntington Beach Sunday.

A dog is hoisted into the air to avoid getting sacked by a wave during the 4th Annual Surf City Surf Dog contest.

Still clutching his security ball, Rhyno is escorted from the ocean by owner Dustin Halko during the 4th Annual Surf City Surf Dog competition Sunday.

Sugar and owner Ryan Rustan of Huntington Beach ride a wave in together after the pooch competed in the 4th Annual Surf City Surf Dog contest.

Hanzo the boxer keeps focused while catching a wave during the 4th Annual Surf City Surf Dog competition. He belongs to Eric Felland of Hollywood.

Looking like a Hollywood star, Joey, a West Highland terrier, seems to enjoy the attention before he competes in the small dog division of the 4th Annual Surf City Surf Dog contest.

Hollywood, a 3-year-old English bulldog, looks back longingly at the water as he awaits another run during the Surf City Surf Dog competition Sunday. Hollywood belongs to Heather McKenney of Los Angeles who says her dog would surf all day if allowed.

Sugar bails from her surfboard during the 4th Annual Surf City Surf Dog contest. She is owned by Ryan Rustan of Huntington Beach.

Sugar catches a big one as she surfs during the 4th Annual Surf City Surf Dog contest. The rescue dog, owned by Ryan Rustan of Huntington Beach was competing in the 4th Annual Surf City Surf Dog contest Sunday.

Sugar keeps a low center of gravity as owner Ryan Rustan keeps an eye on her during the 4th Annual Surf City Surf Dog contest. The rescue dog, from the streets of Los Angeles, had a hard start to life before Rustan adopted her. Several of her teeth were knocked out. Now she "just stays on the surfboard like a cat," he said.

Looking as cool as a cucumber, Roxie waits with the other canines to attempt a Guinness Book World Record for the most dogs surfing together. Twenty dogs attempted but perhaps because of the big waves, it wasn't achieved Sunday during the 4th Annual Surf City Surf Dog event.

HUNTINGTON BEACH – As Sugar propelled down the face of a 3-foot wave and whitewash crumbled behind her, she clung on tight to the wobbly board beneath her with all four paws.

The crowd on the sand hooted and hollered – and a few barked – as the small white dog rode the big wave to shore.

“She stays on, she’s just a cat,” said owner Ryan Rustan. “She’s just a good little athlete.”

Sugar was found in December – abandoned, beaten and her bottom row of teeth missing – on the streets of downtown Los Angeles. The hard days are now behind her, and she’s adapted well to her new life as an Orange County surfer.

The puppy was one of 46 dogs that showed up in Huntington Beach to compete in the fourth annual Surf City Surf Dog event, a fundraiser that brought dog lovers to watch the sandy spectacle.

Waves were rough for the pups, with a strong swell that brought 3- to 4-foot waves and strong currents.

“It’s pretty big. But the dogs are doing amazing,” said contest creator Lisa Scolman. “The owners are getting beaten up, but the dogs are having a great time.”

A Guinness World Record attempt to get 20 dogs to ride the same wave for five seconds was made midday. Guinness adjudicator Mike Janela was on the sand – sporting an official suit and shiny loafers in the sweltering heat – to record if the attempt was successful.

While no official record had been set in the past, Guinness establishes minimum requirements for legitimate record attempts. Janela sees a lot of bizarre things in his job – and this one is definitely up there.

“I can’t surf, and here are these dogs hanging 10, or hanging 20. It’s amazing. We get to see a lot of cool stuff, and this is something that is totally new,” he said before the attempt. “Hopefully, they are successful – but even if they aren’t, it’s a great event to get all these people out here.”

The waves ended up too strong to get all 20 pooches to stand up at the same time, many scurrying to shore as waves pounded them, with owners holding them tight. Some were able to stay on and ride the wave, but after two failed attempts, the world record will have to wait until next year.

Heather McKenny came out of the water with a big scratch on her right cheek and down her neck after her dog, Sir Hollywood, panicked in the strong surf.

“It was really hard,” she said. “If we did this last year, the waves were great for it. But this year, it’s the toughest waves.”

Even though she walked away a bit beat up, she’ll be coming back next year.

“It’s just a great way for people with dogs to have a good time together, and with all the support of the people who come out – it couldn’t be better,” McKenny said.

Laylan Connelly started as a journalist in 2002 after earning a degree in journalism from the University of Southern California. Through the years, she has covered several cities, including Irvine, Laguna Beach and Newport Beach. In recent years, she has covered Orange County's beach and surf culture. Coverage includes everything from local wildlife off the coast, beach events, lifeguard happenings and the surf industry. When she's not writing about the beach, she is there enjoying it. Favorite surf spots include Doheny and San O.

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